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Original poster

Being a playgroup leader!

11 replies

Angeliz · 27/02/2004 11:42

Hello everyone

My dd ,(aged 3), goes to a local playgroup held in a church. The two ladies who run it are quitting and unless someone volunteered to take it over it would have closed.
I guess someone had to so i volunteered!
There are lots of things to go through and the main ones for me at the moment is making sure the insurance is paid and up to date, and it's only me, is that alright?
Parents stay with their toddlers so i guess there doesn't have to be a staff/child ratio!
I will be looking it all up tonight but thought i'd put it on here now to see what pearls of wisdom i could get from you all.
Is there anything i should worry about or do!

(once i've grasoed the paperwork side i'm really looking forward to the fun side of it all..........am planning activities and music already

Thanks in advance and i'll check in later++++++

OP posts:
fairydust · 27/02/2004 13:05

I'd put posters up saying that parents are responsiable for there children at all times - that way if there are any accidents it won;t come back on you.

ponygirl · 27/02/2004 13:23

Good for you, Angeliz! I'm on the committee of a pre-school and have been involved with a toddler group where parents stayed, and I know that it's really difficult to get people to volunteer for these things and give up there own time, so well done! The first thing that springs to mind is about money - does the playgroup have a bank account, how is rent paid, any financial reserves etc. There's no point sitting on money that can be spent on your children.

Have fun!

roisin · 27/02/2004 13:49

Angeliz, how often does the group run? If it's just once a week for a couple of hours, you can just 'muddle along', but if it's more often then you come under all sorts of regulations, even if parents stay with their children.

The Pre-school learning alliance is a great place to start for information of all sorts.

What ages are the children? There are various threads on here about 'toddler groups', some of which would have children from 0 up to 4 or even 5, and there may be things on there which are relevant and helpful to you.

Original poster
Angeliz · 27/02/2004 16:09

Thanks everyone!
The playgroup only runs once a week for two hours so that's a good point roisin, thanks! The playgroup does have a bank account that is to be put into my name and the parents pay a pound each week. They also do things like raffles.
There's a charity walk for Barnados due soon and i was told that the kids did that last year!
I am quite excited now and have tonnes of ideas!
I asked if i could put some leaflets in the Wacky Warehouse to advertise but i don't know what the limit is on how many kids are allowed.
I have SO much to learn so any more advice greatly appreciated

OP posts:
twiglett · 27/02/2004 16:43

message withdrawn

Tortington · 27/02/2004 21:03

polics chekcs - trez importanto

Original poster
Angeliz · 27/02/2004 21:21

ooh, custardo, that just popped upinfront of me,(your post-just incase you think i've sat here for hours)

Anyway, i mentioned this to dp, as i will be the only one doing it and i will be doing it voluntarliy, will i need a police check? And if so, who for?

I have had lots so really don't mind but don't really know about that! Do you?

OP posts:
roisin · 27/02/2004 21:28

At our toddler group anyone who is not a parent of a child there has a police check under the church's child protection policies.

Original poster
Angeliz · 27/02/2004 21:30

thanks roisin

I will check that on Monday. I will still be a parent too as i'll be taking dd and i'm hoping for another but it's something i hadn't thought of

OP posts:
coppertop · 27/02/2004 21:47

If you're going to be collecting money it would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the accounting system/books that the last leader used. Wherever possible you should have a 'paper trail' showing where every penny came from and what you've done with it. This way you are covering your tracks if anything should go wrong.

Original poster
Angeliz · 28/02/2004 16:19

Have just gone through the book-keeping and register, (The last two volunteers practically fainted with relief when they handed them over).
Anyway, the register hasn't been filled in AT ALL this year, no records in book-keeping from December and a bag with 30 quid in from subs with tats of paper with kids names on and no dates,and a reciept for rent paid to the church that wasn't registered in the book-keeping book! Feel very peeved and will be asking lots of questions on Monday and insist they get the books up to date!
Bloody cheek!
Isn't that rude to expect me to start with backdated mistakes?!

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